Hokum (2026)
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Another night in October, another excuse to watch spooky stuff without any complaints. One of my favorite things is finding out something I’ve been waiting to watch has his a service I already pay for, because then I don't need to pay for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love buying and owning movies (even if the trend of ease of digital means I don’t really own them anymore), but I’m a man who hasn’t won the lotto and this site is more of a hobby than any sort of meal ticket - so I gladly supplement my desires with just watching things with no added cost instead. Tonight's is a bit of an odd one for the review side, making me wonder how well I’ll be able to prattle on, but looks to be interesting either way. I’m really at a loss for a good name transition this time around, so tonight’s movie is Hokum.
Hokum is a movie about a man. Largely, as presented to us anyways, the man is the main focus - but the events that transpire tell their own story. To start, our man is a writer - one of those rather mean ones that looks down on people (although not always necessarily because there’s some pompous belief in the fact he’s better in so much as I think he genuinely just doesn’t entirely like people that much). He’s a bit abrasive, but whilst on a break some haunting things prompt him to carry out with going on a trip to an old inn that his parents had whisked off to before things had gone a bit south after his mother died. While there, the plot takes root proper as an attempted hanging leads to a gap in time punctuated by a disappearance of the person who saved him from his attempted hanging, and he want’s to get to the bottom of it because something feels off. Twists, turns, and the supernatural await - unless of course it’s all just stress tearing down his mind.
Actors do a good job, but it’s one of those times where it means the characters aren’t necessarily going to be likeable because of it. Our lead - as alluded to earlier - is a bit of a jerk. Sometimes it comes off as snobbish, but most the time it’s feels more opinionated or just lack of empathy then it does some self-righteous importance. The fact that our lead does a good enough job here that you still worry about what might happen to him one way or the other despite being a rather unlikeable fellow speaks well enough to the acting by itself. Support cast likewise do well - although not all getting a ton of time to shine, they provide plenty of moments of impact that can steer you to thinking one way or the other in the “why is the heroic lady missing.”
Characters are here, but outside of the main one there isn't too much to go crazy about in depth. There’s some plot revalation that tie some folks together and flesh a little bit out more of their morality or character, but for the most part it’s not a deep resonance that changes them - but our lead can arguably be said to be in a different, perhaps healthier spot by the end of the movie than the start at least mentally. I would argue that the woods-man and his magic mushrooms is probably the most advanced character, considering he has a history that’s spread out through the movie to some extent whilst also providing for plenty of the potentially supernatural elements and playing a direct role in the plot’s thread to the conclusion. Likewise, although absent after the rescue, our lead lady also plays a rather helpful role by expositing some helpful supernatural knowledge, doing the rescue itself - and because of the rescue giving our lead a reason to look for her and create the later part of the movie because of it.
One of these two is an actual hero, the other is just the main character.
Where the movie is probably going to be the weakest for me is going to be the costume department. Despite there being some fantastical elements from the supernatural side, there isn’t really a lot going on in attire. We have a character on what’s pitched to be a kid’s show from what I can tell that looks absolutely terrifying for some reason, we have a witch that isn't ever really just sitting there in full-blown well lit areas to really get a good eyeball at (well played creature tactics to increase mileage right there), and a few costume party outfits that aren’t really anything outrageous. Beyond that, everyday attire and some hotel staff attire rounds out the experience - most the mains will stand out from one another, but there isn’t anything too awful elaborate that’s going to stick in your mind and make you wonder how they made it.
The setting gets a ton of mileage given it’s mostly the hotel, a hospital room, and a few outdoors locations. It manages the mood very well, and for the folks paying attention the entire movie just spreads things about and sets stuff up well in advance of any reveals. This isn’t to say it won’t try and trick you with some red hearings, but it’s a nice attention to detail that follows through the movie - like the menace caused by a hot tub filled with murky water that may or may not contain some kind of evil, or a darkly lit corridor and spooky noises. Violence is surprisingly almost non-existent despite the material of the story being rather dark. There are a few deaths, including a goat, but none of it is graphic and the actual dying part is always off screen. Helps to prove that for a good spook down the spine you don’t need all the crazy levels of blood and gore to be effective (even if the special effects hound in me loves it).
Audio is well done. Balance is good, and the intent behind the audio also helps steep the scenes in atmosphere to help with chill management. Line delivery feels well and professional, so nothing is really over-done outside of the lead over-stepping the jerk line a few times with a few of his actions earlier on in the movie. That does tie into the thinking mans section a good amount though, as you can set up a pretty good argument or thesis on how trauma has shaped him into being that butthole of a person he currently is, certainly only bolstered by his nihilistic planned ending to the book series he’s writting at the start. The movie teases that trauma through out, and like with most things by the end it’ll flesh it out. We also get a bunch of stuff as far as relations, empathy, folklore, belief, and a general take on mental health versus supernatural occurances - even though not once during the movie did I ever wonder if the lead was having a mental breakdown as opposed to actual supernatural events happening. Needless to say, there’s a bunch in this pot of chills to keep a thinker pretty happy.
How the fresh heck is this supposed to be a kid show character.
It isn’t the most action packed of movies, but most the spooky thriller types aren't. It also doesn’t necessarily feel like it has the craziest budget involved - but it doesn’t feel like it needs it either. Everything looks well done, sounds well done, and is acted well - so it’s not like the quality of the movie is any real reason to avoid it. It might be obvious, but people looking for a spooky time would be better suited to enjoy it to the fullest, but the mystery angle mixed with the super natural elements does help lead to a bit of a character study buried within the movie as well, so I could see some folks who aren’t opposed to nor thrilled by the horror elements still fully enjoying the movie that’s delivered.